Written Answers

Monday 19 June 2000

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was represented at the Standing Veterinary Committee (Animal Health) meeting in Brussels on 10 May 2000.

Ross Finnie: Yes: the State Veterinary Service which represents the interests of all the GB Agriculture Departments, including the Scottish Executive’s Rural Affairs Department, attended that meeting.

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6342 by Sarah Boyack on 10 May 2000, to detail (a) the routes and airports specified in the Public Service Obligations, (b) the criteria for the selection of the routes and airports, (c) what consultation has taken place with members of the public, local authorities and industry regarding these routes and airports and (d) the process for tendering regarding the airlines and airports.

Sarah Boyack: The information requested is as follows:

  


(a) Routes/airports specified in the Scottish 
Executive’s and Islands Councils’ Public Service Obligations 




Glasgow-Campbeltown-Tiree 


Tingwall-Foula 




Glasgow-Barra 


Tingwall-Papa Stour 




Stornoway-Benbecula-Barra 


Tingwall-Out Skerries 




Kirkwall-North Ronaldsay 


Tingwall/Sumburgh-Fair Isle 




Kirkwall-Papa Westray 

 



  (b) Criteria

  The criteria are contained within Article 4.1(a)-(d) of EC Regulation 2408/92 on access for Community air carriers to intra-Community air routes. These involve the public interest, the availability of other forms of transport, air fares/conditions for users, and carriers operating or intending to operate on the route.

  (c) Consultation

  The Scottish Executive consulted Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and the Islands Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Western Isles Enterprise prior to the award of its contracts. Individuals and organisations provided comments on the performance of the air services and these were noted by the Scottish Executive. Any consultation by the Islands Councils is a matter for each council to consider.

  (d) Tendering process

  Invitations to Tender (ITT) are advertised in the Official Journal of the European Communities in accordance with the timetable and procedures set out in Article 4(1)(d)-(k) of EC Regulation 2408/92.

Cancer

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce widespread screening for prostate cancer and at what age.

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce prostate-specific antigen testing to assist in diagnosing prostate cancer.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive does not at present have any plans to introduce screening for prostate cancer. The National Screening Committee, an expert group which advises all the UK Health Departments, has recommended, after very careful consideration of the available evidence, that a national screening programme using current Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing techniques should not be introduced at this time. The NSC does not believe there is sufficient evidence that screening reduces mortality. The committee is nonetheless actively reviewing the position as results of further planned research trials become available and is considering the possibility of a randomised controlled trial to produce more robust evidence of effectiveness.

  The Scottish Executive is, however, aware of the threat to male health which prostate cancer can pose, and the guidance issued to the NHS explains that this recommendation does not exclude PSA testing of those presenting with symptoms, or who have a family history of the disease.

Childcare

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of spending on the provision of childcare provision by it and its agencies for each of the past two years and the current year, broken down by local enterprise company area.

Peter Peacock: The information is not available in the form requested. Resources in respect of the Childcare Strategy, pre-school education and Sure Start Scotland are distributed through local authorities. The figures for 1998-2000 are as follows:

  


£ million 


1998-99 


1999-2000 


2000-01 




Childcare Strategy 


3.8 


5.75 


13.75 




Pre-School Education 


74 


111 


133 




Sure Start 

 

 9 


14

Community Care

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any section 74(2) consents under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 have been given to Dumfries and Galloway Council in connection with the disposal of Benreay Residential Home to Burnfoot Homes (Lockerbie) Limited and Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre to Burnfoot Homes (Annan) Limited.

Mr Frank McAveety: Consent was given to Dumfries and Galloway Council under section 74(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to sell Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre to Burnfoot Homes Ltd on 6 August 1998.

Community Care

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consents under any sections of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than section 74(2)) or under any other Acts have been given to Dumfries and Galloway Council in connection with the disposal of Benreay Residential Home and Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre.

Mr Frank McAveety: No.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on vehicle fuel by the (i) National Museum of Scotland, (ii) National Library of Scotland and (iii) National Galleries of Scotland during 1999.

Rhona Brankin: Expenditure on vehicle fuel during 1999 was as follows:

  


National Museums of Scotland 


£4,585 




National Library of Scotland 


£2,273 




National Galleries of Scotland 


£3,872 




  These figures do not include the costs of vehicle fuel incurred in the course of official duties by members of staff in private vehicles. This information is not readily available.

Digital Scotland Task Force

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre a detailed record of the visit to Finland by the Minister in charge of the Digital Scotland Task Force, including any outcomes resulting from the trip.

Peter Peacock: I visited Finland on 13, 14 and 15 October 1999, to see at first hand examples of the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to education and learning there. I combined this, in the context of the Digital Scotland initiative, with discussions about Finland’s approach to wider information society issues. The programme included meetings with educational researchers, teachers and schools students, with elected representatives and officials of the Finnish Education Ministry and of the Ministry for Communications, and with representatives of Finland-based companies.

  I was impressed with the degree of consensus within Finland that active participation and collaboration in and leadership of the information society were critically important to economic and social wellbeing.

  The visit informed and deepened our understanding of a wide range of ICT issues which are relevant to the Digital Scotland initiative. A particular result of the visit is that a team of Finnish education researchers visited Scotland from 31 May to 2 June to share with us their knowledge about applying ICTs to education and learning.

Disabled People

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the use of taxi card schemes as means of addressing the mobility needs of disabled people.

Sarah Boyack: Local authorities have the responsibility for determining and operating discretionary concessionary fares schemes. Taxi card schemes represent an important part of the concessionary travel schemes operated by many authorities. The Scottish Executive is committed to enhancing integrated concessionary travel for pensioners and disabled people across Scotland and has commissioned a study which is currently examining existing provision and assessing the costs of a range of options, including the use of taxicard schemes, which may be considered for introduction in the future.

Education

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Angus Council Education Authority has supplied it with a copy of its asset management plan and whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Peter Peacock: There is no requirement for education authorities to submit asset management plans to the Scottish Executive, and no such plan has been received from Angus Council’s Education Department.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-6736, S1W-6737 and S1W-6738 by Peter Peacock on 25 May 2000, what target percentage of teachers in (a) secondary schools, (b) primary schools and (c) special schools will have their own e-mail addresses by the end of (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not set any intermediate targets for teachers’ e-mail addresses.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6739 by Peter Peacock on 25 May 2000, whether it intends to introduce targets for the provision of e-mail addresses to teachers in pre-school centres.

Peter Peacock: No. Staff in pre-school teams are variously qualified; and the potential for using ICT in pre-school settings needs to be thoroughly and sensitively explored. Our priority for this sector is to assess the scope for using ICT as an aid to young children’s learning and for its contribution to the professional development of all staff. My department is supporting work by the Scottish Consultative Council on the Curriculum to address these issues.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-6740, S1W-6741 and S1W-6748 by Peter Peacock on 25 May 2000, what target percentage of pupils in (a) secondary schools, (b) primary schools and (c) special schools will have their own e-mail addresses by the end of (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not set any intermediate targets for schools to have their own e-mail addresses.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-6732, S1W-6733 and S1W-6734 by Peter Peacock on 25 May 2000, to provide details, from information collated from the October 1999 School Survey of Information and Communication Technology, of the ratio of computers of less than four years of age to pupils in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special schools, discounting in each case those that are used mainly for administration purposes.

Peter Peacock: The data collected in the October 1999 Schools ICT Survey do not distinguish computers used mainly for administration purposes. The information requested will be available when the detailed results of the 1999 School Census are published in July 2000.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-6744 and S1W-6745 by Peter Peacock on 25 May 2000, what target percentage of (a) primary schools and (b) special schools will have access to the internet for World Wide Web use by the end of (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has not set any intermediate targets for schools’ Internet access.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funds was left in the education budget at the end of the last financial year.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The position regarding expenditure by the Education Department in 1999-2000, and any possible underspend, will be subject to the production of final accounts for that period. These accounts will be published on 31 August 2000.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce maximum class sizes for primary three to primary seven.

Mr Sam Galbraith: We have made regulations to set a maximum class size of 30 for primary three from August 2001. A maximum class size of 33 for primary four to seven is set by an agreement of the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee. This will remain in force following commencement of section 51 of the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc. Bill. We have no plans to make regulations on class size maxima for primary four to seven.

Education

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4231 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 18 February 2000, what programmes the £13.45 million remaining in the Excellence Fund for 2000-01 will be allocated to, broken down by local authority area.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Announcements on the balance of resources will follow once decisions have been made on their allocation.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), about the SQA’s proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home in order to overcome the problem of lack of markers and, if so, what guidance it gave to the SQA.

Mr Sam Galbraith: As the recruitment of markers is an operational matter for the SQA, the Executive was not consulted on its proposals. However, we have been assured by the SQA that marking of exam papers will be completed on time. We are continuing to monitor the situation.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom days will be lost as a result of the Scottish Qualification Authority’s proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The recruitment of markers is the responsibility of SQA.

  I understand from SQA that the total numbers of days for which markers have to be released will not be known until the recruitment process is complete.

Education

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The recruitment of markers is the responsibility of SQA.

  I understand from them that the total cost will not be known until the recruitment process is complete.

Europe

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6228 by Mr Jack McConnell on 9 May 2000, whether it will list the EU Council of Ministers’ meetings on matters within its general responsibility which Scottish Executive Ministers did not attend.

Mr Jack McConnell: A list of the EU Councils of Ministers’ meetings since 1 July 1999 is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). My answer to question S1W-6228 identified attendance to 9 May 2000 by Scottish Executive Ministers. The UK line, which takes into account Scottish interests, is actively pursued at council meetings, irrespective of the composition of the UK delegation.

European Convention on Human Rights

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being made for the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into Scots law in October.

Mr Jim Wallace: We are systematically reviewing all our activities to identify issues where there is a risk of ECHR challenge. This process has been underway since December 1998 and is continuing. Guidance on the ECHR has been published and widely circulated throughout the Scottish Executive, to local authorities and to other public authorities.

Executive Communication

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its communications with local authorities are carried out electronically and what targets it has to increase this proportion.

Mr Jack McConnell: We are discussing with local authorities ways of improving the speed and efficiency of communications between us, in support of the overall aim of ensuring that all public services can be carried out electronically by 2005. All Scottish Executive consultation documents are placed on the Executive’s website and are therefore available to local authorities electronically. Increasing numbers of less formal communications with councils – for example, letters between officials – are now routinely sent electronically. Statistical information is also exchanged electronically. The proportion of electronic exchanges will grow further as new ways of working are adopted generally.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated proportion of each of the level 1 budget headings is spent on labour costs.

Mr Jack McConnell: The estimated proportion of each of the Level 1 Budget headings and the total budget spent on public sector pay is provided in the following table:

  


Level 1 Budget Heading 


Estimate of Budget Spent on 
Public Sector Pay (%) 2000-01 




Support for Local Authorities 


54 




Central Government Support for Children and 
Education  


13 




Communities 


2 




Crown Office 


59 




Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 


36 




EU Structural Funds 


0 




Executive Secretariat 


0 




Food Standards agency 


90 




Forestry 


9 




Health 


71 




Justice 


34 




New Deal 


0 




Rural Affairs 


10 




Scottish Executive Administration 


61 




Scottish Executive Associated Departments 


86 




Scottish Parliament 


44 




Transport and Environment 


12 




Unallocated Capital Modernisation Fund 


0 




Total Budget 


49 




  Note: The table is based on estimates of resources spent from particular programmes specifically on public sector pay. It does not take account of resources paid across, for example, as grants to private/voluntary sectors or nationalised industries, which may in some cases end up being used to meet pay costs.

Finance

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it pays for any advisers to House of Commons Committees or Her Majesty’s Government from its budget.

Mr Jack McConnell: No.

Fire Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred on an annual basis since 1995, broken down by fire authority area, on (a) vehicle fuel and (b) transport.

Angus MacKay: The available information is as follows:

  Fire Services Revenue Expenditure: Transport costs1

  

 

1995-96 


1996-97 




Brigade 


Transport costs 


of which revenue contributions 
to capital2


Transport costs 


of which revenue contributions 
to capital 




Central Scotland 


195 

 

169 

 



Dumfries & Galloway 


119 

 

278 


158 




Fife 


544 

 

567 

 



Grampian 


605 


38 


654 


396 




Highlands & Islands 


283 

 

153 

 



Lothian & Borders 


682 

 

733 

 



Strathclyde 


1,130 

 

1,947 

 



Tayside 


337 

 

334 

 



SCOTLAND 


3,895 


38 


4,835 


554 




  

 

1997-98 


1998-993




Brigade 


Transport costs 


of which revenue contributions 
to capital 


Transport costs 


of which revenue contributions 
to capital 




Central Scotland 


244 

 

213 

 



Dumfries & Galloway 


549 


350 


451 


248 




Fife 


582 

 

515 

 



Grampian 


1,085 


506 


801 


281 




Highlands & Islands 


167 

 

357 

 



Lothian & Borders 


752 

 

700 

 



Strathclyde 


2,062 

 

1,875 

 



Tayside 


365 

 

394 

 



SCOTLAND 


5,806 


856 


5,603 


529 




  Source: As reported by authorities on Local Return (LFR4).

  1. Information about revenue expenditure on transport is not collected at a level of detail which would allow expenditure on vehicle fuel to be identified separately.

  2. Transport costs include operating costs for transport and revenue contributions to capital for vehicles.

  3. Data for 1998-99 are provisional and may be subject to change.

  4. Information about capital expenditure on transport is not held centrally.

Genetically Modified Crops

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1823 by Ross Finnie on 1 June 2000, why, following a departmental meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food on 5 May, it took 10 days to ascertain the exact nature of the GM contamination.

Ross Finnie: I refer Mr Morgan to the answer I gave to question S1W-7592.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many paediatric patients currently being treated at Edinburgh Sick Children’s Hospital’s cardiac unit are referrals from health board areas in the West of Scotland.

Susan Deacon: During the 18-month period from April 1998 to September 1999, there were two patient referrals from a health board area in the West of Scotland to the Edinburgh Sick Children’s Hospital. During the same 18-month period however, there were four referrals to Yorkhill Hospital from the Lothian Health Board area.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to train staff in nurseries and primary and secondary schools to provide any attention needed by children suffering from conditions such as asthma or epilepsy during the school day.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Teachers and other staff in schools may voluntarily agree to administer medicine to pupils with healthcare needs. I have established a working group to draw up good practice guidance on the administration of medicines in schools. One of the issues to be covered is the need for health boards and local authorities to ensure those volunteers receive the necessary training.

Housing

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much housing association grant was allocated to housing associations in Glasgow in each year from 1995-96 to 1999-2000 inclusive in real terms.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The information requested is set out in the table below.

  

 

Expenditure (£ million) 




1995-96 


87.433 




1996-97 


69.809 




1997-98 


50.892 




1998-99 


43.079 




1999-2000 


43.597 




  Note: figures expressed in 1995-96 constant prices.

Housing

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in Scotland reside in non-permanent homes such as caravans, mobile homes and chalets.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The information requested is not held centrally.

Housing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the current spend estimates for Scottish Homes contained in table 2.4 of the Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive, 2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A breakdown of the current spend estimates for Scottish Homes for 2000-01 which are based on estimates at December 1999, is set out below. Figures for 2001-02 are not yet available.

  

 

2000-01
£ million 




Annual Expenditure Report figure 


50.7 




Of which: 

 



Operating Costs 


43.2 




Revenue Grants 


7.5

Influenza

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the payment system to general practitioners for flu vaccination in the winter of 2000-01.

Susan Deacon: Whether to provide influenza vaccination has long been regarded as a matter of good clinical practice. Beyond the fees and allowances which GPs receive to provide general medical services for their patients, no set fee is currently payable although in practice many health boards have previously offered some form of additional payment to GPs for flu vaccination. Arrangements for 2000-01 are currently under consideration.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum number of available spaces in (a) penal establishments directly operated by the Scottish Prison Service, (b) legalised police cells and (c) privately operated penal establishments (i) was in each of the last three financial years and (ii) is anticipated to be in each of the next three financial years.

Angus MacKay: The information is as follows:

  

 

(a) 


(b) 


(c) 




1997-98 


5,960 


73 


0 




1998-99 


5,995 


73 


0 




1999-2000 


6,014 


73 


500 




2000-01 


5,600 


73f 


500 




2001-02 


6,150 


73f 


500 




2002-03 


6,150* 


73f 


500* 




  * Subject to the outcome of the fundamental review of the SPS estate currently under way.

  f Need for and number of police cells at Ayr and Portree is currently being reviewed.

Land Reform

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress has been made in implementing its Land Reform Action Plan, published in August 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: I promised that we would publish regular updates on our Land Reform Action Plan to show how we are delivering on our promises. The third of these progress reports is published today. All MSPs are receiving copies.

  This shows that there will now be some delay in the publication of the draft Land Reform Bill for consultation – we think it best to take the time now to resolve some of the many complex and technical issues relating to our proposals. However, I am pleased to say that generally we are well on track. Since the last progress report:

  The Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Bill completed Stage 3 on 3 May 2000 and received Royal Assent on 9 June 2000;

  Adam Ingram has introduced the Leasehold Casualties (Scotland) Bill;

  Our National Parks Bill has been introduced;

  The Agricultural Holdings White Paper has been published for consultation;

  The establishment of a research project to establish the possible need for improved information about land ownership has been announced.

Local Government Finance

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a detailed breakdown of the total spending guideline set down for West Dunbartonshire Council and East Dunbartonshire Council for each of the past four years including the current financial year and what percentage change in real terms these figures represent year-on-year and over the four year period as a whole.

Mr Jack McConnell: The table below shows the figures for expenditure guidelines for 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Expenditure guidelines replaced capping limits in 1999-2000 and provide councils with a more transparent and a less restrictive indication of the level of council spending considered to be prudent. Expenditure guidelines are not directly comparable with capping limits, because a greater amount of what councils spend is taken into account within guidelines than was the case under capping limits.

  


EXPENDITURE GUIDELINES 




Local Authority 


1999-2000
£000 


2000-01
£000 




West Dunbartonshire 




Cash 


143,865  


 147,941  




Real Terms 


143,865  


 144,685  




% Increase in Real Terms 

 

 0.57  




East Dunbartonshire 




Cash 


 126,915  


 130,182  




Real Terms 


 126,915  


 127,317  




% Increase in Real Terms 

 

 0.32  




  Notes:

  1. Real term increases are based on GDP deflators at March 2000.

  2. West Dunbartonshire guideline figure for 2000-01 includes allowance for the additional deprivation allocation.

Mental Health

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has undertaken in relation to the Millan Committee’s review of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and whether it will facilitate a debate on this subject following the publication of the committee’s second consultation document.

Susan Deacon: The Millan Committee is on target to report to Ministers this summer. In the Scottish Parliament debate over the Mental Health (Public Safety and Appeals) (Scotland) Act 1999, the Executive undertook to provide a quick response to any recommendations and give members a full opportunity to debate the report and the Executive response. The Programme for Government promises new mental health legislation in the light of the review by the committee.

Mining

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to provide further guidance to local authorities on further development of opencast coal mining.

Sarah Boyack: Opencast coal guidance was published on 31 March 1999. The Executive will consult shortly on a proposed addendum to this guidance dealing with the introduction of an assessment framework for dust emissions from opencast sites.

NHS Trusts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as a principal academic centre of maternal and child health if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue to house eight University of Glasgow departments if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as a tertiary medical centre for foetal medicine and paediatric sub-specialities if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue as the site of the West of Scotland Genetic Service if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue its level of engagement in research and development if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether and how Yorkhill NHS Trust will continue its position as a Trust focused on the health needs of mothers and children if it is transferred to a new site at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.

Susan Deacon: Greater Glasgow Health Board currently has under way two reviews involving full public consultation exercises, one on its proposals to modernise acute hospital services across the city, the other specifically about the future role of the Yorkhill NHS Trust. The kind of questions which the member has asked about proposals for the future delivery of services currently provided by Yorkhill are at the heart of the review and consultation process and I shall ask the board specifically to take her questions into account. But it is far too early to say what conclusions will be reached. The board hopes to be in a position to draw up a firm set of proposals by December. Whatever the outcome of the reviews, the Scottish Executive will want to ensure that any proposals will form part of a robust framework of integrated children’s services across Scotland.

NHS Trusts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to use expertise available within the Yorkhill NHS Trust to shape a strategy on the health needs of mothers and their children within the Greater Glasgow Health Board area.

Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.

  It is for Greater Glasgow Health Board to develop strategies to meet the needs of its local population including mothers and their children.

NHS Trusts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of local community involvement and local volunteers Yorkhill NHS Trust currently engages.

Susan Deacon: The Executive fully recognises the important role that the local community and local volunteers play in supporting NHS services and in December published guidance to assist Trusts in implementing volunteering policies.

  Yorkhill NHS Trust currently enjoys considerable support from the local community and local volunteers, which is to be commended. Detailed information about local involvement in its activities is available from the Trust.

NHS Trusts

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what would happen to the £7 million operating theatre complex opened at Yorkhill Hospital last year if the Trust is transferred to a new site at the Southern General in Glasgow.

Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-7271.

National Lottery Awards

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had or will have with the Scotland committee of the National Lottery Charities Board to ensure that innovative and successful projects in Scotland funded by the Board continue on a long-term basis in the absence of alternative funding.

Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive has regular meetings with the National Lottery Charities Board Scotland. In reaching decisions on funding of projects the board takes into account factors such as sustainability of projects and the need to plan ahead for when NLCB funding comes to an end.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that all Non-Departmental Public Bodies are subjecting their public contracts to competitive tender; whether such bodies have been using competitive tendering for such contracts since 1997 and, if there were exceptions, whether it will provide details.

Mr Jack McConnell: The majority of Scottish Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies have an advisory role and therefore do not tender contracts. Those that do have mechanisms in place to ensure competitive tendering procedures are followed. Since 1997, these have accorded with HM Treasury’s model financial memorandum which states that "Contracts shall be placed on a competitive basis, and the lowest cost tender accepted, unless there are good reasons to the contrary".

  The Scottish Executive has exempted NDPBs from competitive tendering in a few cases due to the specialist nature of the service required.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Alex Salmond (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to reply to question S1W-5968 lodged on 4 April 2000.

Mr John Home Robertson: PQ S1W-5968 was answered on 6 June.

Planning

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the European Convention on Human Rights will have on current planning procedures and whether it will have any implications for third party right of appeal.

Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Johnston to my answer to question S1W-6799.

Police

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to prevent the closures of village police stations such as that in the Angus village of Letham and whether it plans to exercise any such powers in this instance.

Mr Jim Wallace: Decisions on the deployment of officers and other resources, including the viability of police stations, are operational matters for Chief Constables. Neither the Joint Police Board nor Scottish Ministers have powers to intervene.

Recycling

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the arrangements are for monitoring levels of recycling and whether it will publish guidelines to local authorities on setting targets.

Sarah Boyack: Audit Scotland, on behalf of the Accounts Commission, publishes annual information on councils’ performance using data collected from councils under the Local Government Scotland Act 1992. This information currently includes a summary of the levels of recycling. Guidelines to councils on the collection of the information are also published by Audit Scotland, following consultation with the Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA).

  I have recently had discussions with CoSLA in which we agreed that the performance indicators on waste management could be improved. In partnership with CoSLA and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the Scottish Executive will discuss with Audit Scotland appropriate indicators for the future so as to provide a useful measure of progress towards the goals contained in the National Waste Strategy: Scotland.

  In the National Waste Strategy: Scotland SEPA made a commitment to provide guidance on targets for household waste recycling this year. I will consider that guidance in due course.

Road Safety

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the safety of visually impaired people at road crossings, in particular through the installation of audible signals and cone indicators on push button control boxes at pedestrian lights.

Sarah Boyack: The Zebra, Pelican and Puffin Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1997 prescribe the form of Pelican and Puffin crossings. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1994 prescribe the form of signal controlled junctions. Both provide for audible signals and tactile devices during the green man invitation to cross phase. Changes to these regulations are the responsibility of the UK Government.

  The Scottish Executive is responsible for pedestrian crossing facilities on trunk roads. Audible signals are normally provided at all standard Pelican and Puffin crossings. Where such signals are inappropriate, such as at staggered crossings, tactile devices are normally installed. In addition, "Talking Pelican" facilities are provided where appropriate.

  Guidance issued to local authorities in 1995 recommends the practices to be followed when planning, designing and installing pedestrian crossings. Guidance issued in 1999 sets out the design standards, methodology and good design practice for the layout of signal controlled junctions. These documents include advice about facilities for disabled people. In particular they encourage the use of audible signals and tactile devices where appropriate to improve the safety of visually impaired people.

Road Safety

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was provided to the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland in each year since it was formed and what the club’s projected funding is in the next three years.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive provides grant to the Scottish Road Safety Campaign to fund free membership of the Children’s Traffic Club in Scotland for all children aged three to four years in Scotland who are registered by their parents. Invitations to register are sent out when children are approaching or shortly after their third birthday.

  The table below gives details of the grant provided in each year since the club was formed and projected funding in financial years 2000-01 and 2001-02. The level of funding for financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04 has yet to be determined.

  A spending review to consider all aspects of spending within the Scottish Executive’s remit is currently underway and funding for the Children’s Traffic Club will be considered during this review. The results of the review will not be known until the autumn.

  


Financial year 


Grant 




1995-96 


£322,700 




1996-97 


£350,000 




1997-98 


£412,000 




1998-99 


£460,000 




1999-2000 


£460,000 




2000-01 


£460,000 




2001-02 


£460,000

Road Safety

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4825 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, what steps it takes to monitor clusters of accidents at particular locations and routes with high accident rates on roads other than trunk roads.

Sarah Boyack: None. Local authorities have a duty under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety. This includes carrying out studies into accidents on roads other than trunk roads.

Road Safety

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4825 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, how it defines (a) a cluster of accidents and (b) a route with a high accident rate.

Sarah Boyack: A cluster of accidents is defined as three or more accidents resulting in injury occurring on any 200 metre stretch of road.

  A route with a high accident rate is one where the number of injury accidents per million vehicle kilometres is higher than the average for that class of road.

Roads

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on maintaining (a) council roads and (b) trunk roads in each local authority area in each of the last four years expressed in (i) real terms and (ii) as spend per mile of road maintained.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is not able to give the information in the format requested.

  The tables below give local authority net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance (including gritting and snow clearing) and local authority gross capital expenditure on the structural maintenance of roads. The information given is for the latest years available since local government reorganisation.

  Roads Maintenance Net Revenue Expenditure¹,² (£000)

  

 

1996-97 


1997-98 




Total net expenditure³ 


Of which revenue contributions 
to capital 


Total net expenditure³ 


Of which revenue contributions 
to capital 




Scotland 


215,599 


15,485 


197,885 


10,106 




Aberdeen City 


5,034 


0 


6,409 


1,339 




Aberdeenshire  


15,435 


2,325 


15,021 


2,492 




Angus 


4,713 


647 


5,231 


846 




Argyll & Bute 


7,912 


0 


7,811 


0 




Clackmannanshire 


1,100 


0 


1,005 


0 




Dumfries & Galloway 


7,627 


0 


6,755 


0 




Dundee City 


3,568 


0 


3,265 


0 




East Ayrshire 


3,917 


0 


4,117 


0 




East Dunbartonshire 


3,818 


0 


3,240 


0 




East Lothian 


3,117 


0 


3,150 


0 




East Renfrewshire 


2,806 


0 


2,197 


0 




Edinburgh, City of 


12,196 


0 


11,665 


0 




Eilean Siar 


4,476 


0 


4,222 


0 




Falkirk 


3,857 


886 


2,981 


0 




Fife 


12,952 


5,457 


8,439 


0 




Glasgow City 


19,117 


0 


15,086 


0 




Highland 


20,432 


0 


17,941 


0 




Inverclyde 


1,283 


0 


1,868 


0 




Midlothian 


3,240 


3 


3,115 


88 




Moray 


3,560 


938 


3,239 


0 




North Ayrshire 


3,556 


0 


3,415 


0 




North Lanarkshire 


8,420 


0 


6,315 


0 




Orkney Islands 


5,272 


2,150 


4,809 


1,646 




Perth & Kinross 


9,138 


827 


8,530 


1,546 




Renfrewshire 


5,004 


0 


4,803 


0 




Scottish Borders 


7,373 


0 


8,300 


0 




Shetland Islands 


6,673 


1,464 


6,155 


957 




South Ayrshire 


4,176 


0 


3,950 


0 




South Lanarkshire 


11,575 


0 


12,454 


1,192 




Stirling 


5,744 


788 


4,247 


0 




West Dunbartonshire 


3,790 


0 


3,235 


0 




West Lothian 


4,719 


0 


4,916 


0 




  

 

1998-994


1999-2000 




Total net expenditure³ 


Of which revenue contributions 
to capital 


Total net expenditure5 
(excluding revenue contributions to capital) 




Scotland 


205,529 


9,398 


183,187 




Aberdeen City 


5,753 


0 


2,431 




Aberdeenshire  


17,931 


2,761 


14,227 




Angus 


5,201 


899 


3,904 




Argyll & Bute 


7,620 


0 


7,986 




Clackmannanshire 


955 


0 


1,153 




Dumfries & Galloway 


6,508 


0 


6,349 




Dundee City 


3,270 


0 


2,836 




East Ayrshire 


4,345 


0 


4,496 




East Dunbartonshire 


3,599 


0 


3,106 




East Lothian 


3,039 


227 


2,425 




East Renfrewshire 


2,684 


0 


2,706 




Edinburgh, City of 


10,830 


0 


9,422 




Eilean Siar 


5,798 


76 


4,497 




Falkirk 


3,124 


0 


2,675 




Fife 


7,854 


0 


6,867 




Glasgow City 


15,789 


0 


15,840 




Highland 


21,384 


0 


16,009 




Inverclyde 


2,237 


0 


1,073 




Midlothian 


2,952 


0 


2,651 




Moray 


4,468 


631 


2,801 




North Ayrshire 


3,415 


0 


3,819 




North Lanarkshire 


5,854 


0 


7,261 




Orkney Islands 


4,757 


1,558 


3,177 




Perth & Kinross 


7,916 


964 


7,117 




Renfrewshire 


4,767 


40 


5,803 




Scottish Borders 


7,986 


0 


7,130 




Shetland Islands 


7,343 


1,975 


5,744 




South Ayrshire 


4,295 


0 


4,641 




South Lanarkshire 


11,199 


222 


12,490 




Stirling 


4,067 


0 


3,552 




West Dunbartonshire 


3,322 


45 


3,578 




West Lothian 


5,265 


0 


5,421 




  Source: As reported by local authorities on Local Financial Return LFR 5 for the years 1996-97, 97-98 and 98-99 and POBE for 1999-2000.

  Notes:

  1. Includes Gritting and snow clearing and Other Road maintenance.

  2. Revenue account data are collected on an accruals basis. Excludes Loan Charges. Includes revenue contributions to capital. Includes total support service costs apportioned notionally, pro rata, to expenditure on operating expenses and constrained to the Scotland total.

  3. Net expenditure is met from council tax, non-domestic rates and government grants.

  4. Data for 1998-99 are provisional and may be subject to change.

  5. Budget Estimate figures.

  Structural Maintenance of Roads

  Gross Capital Expenditure¹ (£000)

  

 

1996-97 


1997-98 


1998-99 




Total Gross Capital Payments 


Of which capital funded from 
current revenue 


Total Gross Capital Payments 


Of which capital funded from 
current revenue 


Total Gross Capital Payments 


Of which capital funded from 
current revenue 




Scotland 


29,809 


8,681 


19,678 


7,607 


20,019 


1,081 




Aberdeen City 


0 


0 


0 


0 


1,171 


0 




Aberdeenshire 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Angus 


207 


0 


366 


0 


0 


0 




Argyll & Bute 


536 


0 


605 


0 


1,357 


4 




Clackmannanshire 


0 


0 


129 


0 


40 


0 




Dumfries & Galloway 


1,635 


0 


297 


0 


0 


0 




Dundee City 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




East Ayrshire 


73 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




East Dunbartonshire 


254 


0 


0 


0 


167 


0 




East Lothian 


218 


0 


317 


0 


529 


0 




East Renfrewshire 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Edinburgh, City of 


4,520 


0 


4,995 


0 


3,191 


0 




Eilean Siar 


0 


0 


0 


0 


898 


0 




Falkirk 


920 


0 


0 


0 


1,291 


350 




Fife 


6,637 


5,915 


6,583 


6,200 


6,573 


96 




Glasgow City 


6,123 


0 


1,708 


0 


0 


0 




Highland 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Inverclyde 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Midlothian 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Moray 


1,729 


938 


1,935 


1,289 


1,478 


631 




North Ayrshire 


73 


0 


415 


0 


224 


0 




North Lanarkshire 


1,340 


0 


730 


118 


271 


0 




Orkney Islands 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Perth & Kinross 


2,642 


1,528 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Renfrewshire 


734 


0 


290 


0 


683 


0 




Scottish Borders 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




Shetland Islands 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 


0 




South Ayrshire 


663 


300 


183 


0 


32 


0 




South Lanarkshire 


485 


0 


22 


0 


690 


0 




Stirling 


0 


0 


0 


0 


379 


0 




West Dunbartonshire 


485 


0 


321 


0 


172 


0 




West Lothian 


535 


0 


782 


0 


873 


0 




  Source: As reported by local authorities on statistical return Capital Payments and their Financing CPR FIN 5 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99.

  Notes:

  1. Capital is reported on a cash (not accruals basis).

  There is no comparable information available for trunk roads but tables 11.1 and 11.2 in the1999 edition of Scottish Transport Statistics contain some relevant data.

Scottish Executive Staff

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future transfer or creation of posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Executive’s policy on location and relocation of Civil Service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 (S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP). Potential locations across Scotland will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with our objectives of efficiency and effectiveness.

  We plan to transfer 83 posts to the Europa Building later this month, completing the move of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department (ELLD) to Glasgow. A number of other posts will also transfer to Glasgow to support ELLD operations.

Social Inclusion

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the current spend estimates on Listening to Communities contained in table 2.7 of the Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive, 2000.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A breakdown of the current spend estimates on Listening to Communities for 2000-01 and 2001-02 is set out below.

  

 

2000-01
£ million 


2001-02
£ million 




Annual Expenditure Report 


0.8 


0.8 




People’s Panels and Juries 


0.3 


0.2 




Community Participation Skills Programme 


0.5 


0.6

Telecommunications

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider implementing a directive to halt the siting of telecommunications masts in Scotland until legislation to give councils greater planning powers in this area has been considered.

Sarah Boyack: Neither the report of the Transport and the Environment Committee nor that of the Stewart Group recommends that telecommunications mast development should be halted. I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-5100.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is now a standard or preferred methodology for transport assessments as specified in NPPG 17 that should be adopted by local authorities when determining planning applications.

Sarah Boyack: Advice on the proposed scope and application of transport assessments was given in Planning Advice Note 57: Transport and Planning. This was published at the same time as NPPG 17. A number of research projects are underway and these will inform future guidance.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have followed the advice set out in NPPG 17 Transport and Planning to set maximum as opposed to minimum numbers of parking spaces for new developments in their planning policies.

Sarah Boyack: In July 1999, a questionnaire was sent to each local authority as part of research into current practice. Of the 19 responses, five councils confirmed that they included either actual or proposed maximum car parking standards within their Local Transport Strategies. A further seven councils indicated they were revising or would review existing policies. All 19 confirmed their intention to develop maximum car parking standards.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is developing policies that explicitly link traffic reduction targets with the realisation of commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions or whether it has any evidence indicating that carbon dioxide targets can be met without taking this action.

Sarah Boyack: Consultation on a Scottish Climate Change Programme closed earlier this month. Responses will assist the development of a final programme, due for publication in the autumn. The final programme will contain measures in a number of sectors, including transport, which will help to deliver the UK Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the UK domestic goal of reducing CO 2 emissions by 20% by 2010.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage large employers to adopt green transport plans.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive is collaborating with the UK Government in offering guidance to employers; undertaking research on the practical delivery of green transport plans; and encouraging local authorities to promote green transport plans with the context of their Local Transport Strategies.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify any targets relating to transport use and the environment that relate to the proposals within its proposed Integrated Transport Bill.

Sarah Boyack: Take up of the proposed powers in the Integrated Transport Bill will vary depending on local circumstances. It would not be appropriate to set national targets relating to these provisions.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the preparation of local transport strategies by local authorities is non-statutory.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive does not believe it necessary to make Local Transport Strategies statutory. All 32 local authorities, together with Strathclyde Passenger Transport, submitted interim strategies. Moreover, a statutory requirement will not guarantee the quality of the strategies submitted.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for tightening the laws governing parking controls around bus stops, pedestrian crossings and schools.

Sarah Boyack: Local roads authorities have wide ranging powers to control parking by promoting Traffic Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. These powers enable the authorities to regulate parking on roads throughout their area, including parking around bus stops, pedestrian crossings and schools.

  The Scottish Executive has no plans to amend the legislation.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is proposing to address the traffic impact created by extensive customer parking provided at out-of-town retail and leisure facilities as an alternative to a customer parking levy.

Sarah Boyack: National Planning Policy Guidelines 8 and 17 provide that new retail and leisure facilities should be sited where there is a choice of transport. The Executive is keen to work with operators of major retail and leisure facilities and local authorities to reduce car usage for new and existing facilities through improving public transport, walking and cycling access and home delivery services.

Waste Management

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice Seafield Sewage Treatment Works has received from the Health and Safety Executive regarding public safety implications of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act (1974) and, in particular, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (1999).

Sarah Boyack: It is necessary for the operator of any wastewater treatment facility to comply with Health and Safety legislation as appropriate, and the current Services Contract for the Seafield site makes specific provision for this.

  However, the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is reserved to the UK Parliament. Matters regarding work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Act should therefore be addressed in that Parliament or directly to the Director General of HSE.

Working Groups

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish, with regard to its Renewing Local Democracy Group, the criteria for selecting the individual members of the group, its budget allocation and details of the number of times it has met so far.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Renewing Local Democracy Working Group is a cross-party group representing the four main political parties. The main criteria for selection of its members were their commitment to local government, individual skills and the perspectives they bring to bear on local government.

  The budget for the group over its lifetime is £30,100, which includes travel expenses and printing and publication costs. There have been six full meetings of the group since September 1999 together with a number of meetings with local authorities and other bodies.

  The group’s report will be published before the summer recess.